QF21 Diverted to Tahiti due to Unruly Passenger

[MEL_Traveller]

Given this stupid, inebriated man's carrying on occurred out of Australian airspace, the AFP would lack jurisdiction.

'The Age' is reporting today he was (unsurprisingly) issued a 'no-fly' ban by QF.

Fortunately I have never been delayed by such an incident. Compared to the number of daily flights within and to/from Australia, they are rare, but perhaps slightly increasing off a low base.

AFP would likely have jurisdiction as it’s an australian registered aircraft.

 

[transpactraveller]

The person offloaded was actually very fortunate the plane didn't continue to the USA. It's not a place to arrive and immediately be arrested.

What would be the reason for an immediate diversion (and the disruption/expense that entails) instead of continuing with the person restrained and having them dealt with on arrival?

Perhaps the bitten crew member needed to be taken off in Tahiti as well for medical attention?

 

[markis10]

What would be the reason for an immediate diversion (and the disruption/expense that entails) instead of continuing with the person restrained and having them dealt with on arrival?

Remove the threat ASAP, even when subdued in cable ties another 7 hours would likely increase the threat of a reoccurrence. There is also the obligation under law for both sides to minimise costs, his bill from Qantas will be a lot less as a result of their actions, but still eye watering.

 

[Aeryn]

If no commercial airline will allow him to fly and lets face it not too many options from Papeete back to NZ, I wonder what is any assistance the NZ government would provide this criminal @sshat.

 

[Franky]

I had to look up "carrying on like a two bob watch"! Similar to pork chop

It would appear that you are not a baby boomer then????

 

[Melburnian1]

Remove the threat ASAP, even when subdued in cable ties another 7 hours would likely increase the threat of a reoccurrence.

Not necessarily, because don't many heavily inebriated individuals eventually fall asleep?

 

[astrosly]

It would appear that you are not a baby boomer then????

Yes, born after decimalisation

 

[LionKing]

There is a video taken by a passenger here. Warning - there is some very colourful language.

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

I wonder if Qantas and other airlines actually can use safety video to remind customers of a few courtesy points?

Yes it tells we are treating each others with respects etc, but I feel it is pretty subjective and think some more specific points for example no violence on the plane and RSA would have helped here.

Planes are secured spaces and this cannot be tolerated. Consequences of violence on a plane needs to be much more serious than trains or buses, where he shouldn't be bailed.

 

[dajop]

Given this stupid, inebriated man's carrying on occurred out of Australian airspace, the AFP would lack jurisdiction.

But wouldn't they have jurisidiction as it was an Australian registered aircraft? (Under the Tokyo Convention and Crimes (Aviation) Act 1991 - Federal Register of Legislation)

 

[Quickstatus]

So far, some reports mention biting, but did biting actually occur?.

Yes it tells we are treating each others with respects etc,

I think that has been way overdone and the safety video should not be side loaded with other matters TBH

 

[offshore171]

Perhaps the bitten crew member needed to be taken off in Tahiti as well for medical attention?

Crew probably needed a rabies shot by the look of the culprit.

 

[Quickstatus]

Perhaps the bitten crew member needed to be taken off in Tahiti as well for medical attention?

That may have grounded the flight (not enough cabin crew to complete the flight to DFW) so I think did not happen

 

[offshore171]

don't many heavily inebriated individuals eventually fall asleep?

I worked behind the bar for a few years back in my uni days.

There are 5 types of drunks

1. The happy drunk
2. The violent drunk
3. The horny drunk
4. The depressed drunk
5. The sleepy drunk.

Category 2, 3 and 4 you definitely don’t want anywhere near you on an aeroplane.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I wonder if Qantas and other airlines actually can use safety video to remind customers of a few courtesy points?

Yes it tells we are treating each others with respects etc, but I feel it is pretty subjective and think some more specific points for example no violence on the plane and RSA would have helped here.

Planes are secured spaces and this cannot be tolerated. Consequences of violence on a plane needs to be much more serious than trains or buses, where he shouldn't be bailed.

We don’t need a video on the criminal law.

Everyone is supposed to know that.

This is one incident out of thousands of flights. Let’s not get too carried away.

It’s still a plane… not a prison where you need to ‘induct’ inmates when they sit down.

 

[TheCollecter]

How long does it take to get from Tahiti to Melbourne on a container ship?

10 or 11 days, depending how you count the date line!

Of course there is not one single scheduled direct sailing

Qantas have not had a relationship with Papeete airport in many a long year, so it won’t be a cheap invoice once QF add up all the line items and present it to the pax

 

[drron]

I wonder if his only chance of leaving PPT is with NZ back home.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I think you’ve missed the point. I was saying the passenger could have started drinking in MEL and it’s not that far to PPT, air time wise, that they may not have been served heaps by the cabin staff.

The flight time to tahiti from MEL, and according to FR24, was 7 hours and 14 mins.

Not sure at what point the decision was made to divert?

But the question that comes to mind is how was the passenger allegedly that intoxicated that long into the flight?

If it was a carry-over prior to embarkation, they shouldn’t have been allowed to board.

If they showed no signs of intoxication at boarding, what happened?

 

[markis10]

But the question that comes to mind is how was the passenger allegedly that intoxicated that long into the flight?

Cleary previous visits to the loo he was able to work out the door! We don’t have all the details so let’s not speculate on RSA issues, it unfairly shines a poor light on staff doing their job when we don’t have context.

 

[milehighclub]

My guess is we aren't just talking alcohol - it is not uncommon for passengers to mix alcohol and drugs/medication

 

[LionKing]

We don’t need a video on the criminal law.

Everyone is supposed to know that.

This is one incident out of thousands of flights. Let’s not get too carried away.

It’s still a plane… not a prison where you need to ‘induct’ inmates when they sit down.

Regrettably in Australia criminal law is very relaxed and will not deter criminals.
Punching or even axing people with machete on buses and trains will only have your case thrown out and walk free.
Moreover people are getting more aggressive after Covid, which I think some gentle reminders will help.

My guess is we aren't just talking alcohol - it is not uncommon for passengers to mix alcohol and drugs

I thought having drugs on flight to Singapore will land yourself killed?